Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

others."
aliens,"
righteousness"
paths"
Lesson Helps for the Week of June 12, 1955
C.Y.P.U. TOPIC
For May 29, 1955
Comments by Rev. J. Paul McCracken
"HEROES OF FAITH AND PEACE"*
Hebrews 11:7-10
The Bible doesn't use the word
"hero."
it is a word which we use in our
Twentieth Century in many different
ways, and it seems that one of the ways
that it is used is to describe some out
standing people in the Bible. But just
what does it mean to be a "hero"
Perhaps some of you have just taken
part in a Senior Class Play during the
month of May. One of the most enter
taining features about many such plays
is the development of a clash between
one cruel person, the "villain," and one
courageous, dashing one, who is the
"hero."
That is one way we use the
word.
In history books, the outstanding per
sonage in a certain battle or period of
history is often referred to as the
"hero," and in a poem, drama, or narra
tive, the "hero" is usually the outstand
ing male character, the one with noble
characteristics. But the word is used in
a little different sense in the topic for
this evening.
These "heroes of faith and peace"
as
described in the passage in Hebrews fall
more into the category of "persons who
are regarded as models, or examples, for
They are our "heroes" in the
sense that they have shown in their lives
qualities that we hold to be of the high
est type, and that we would do well to
imitate.
Not that we have chosen them. They
have been chosen for us, to follow. Like
a father directing the attention of his
son to a picture of Abe Lincoln, and urg
ing him to follow the example of that
great man, so God, our Heavenly Father,
has given us here in Hebrews 11 a cata
logue of great saints to follow. Here is a
Hall of Fame, but the qualifications for
admittance involve far more important
matters than a batting average in base
ball, or even great accomplishments in
science, politics, or education. These men
and women portrayed here achieved the
favor of God, and still receive the ac
claim of the whole Christian world, be
cause of their faith in God, and their
contentment in doing His Will. Through
it they virtually set the world on fire
for God, accomplishing the impossible,
and overcoming the worst of Satan's op
position. See the amazing things that
God did through these faith-full saints
in 11:33-38. They "subdued kingdoms,
wrought righteousness, obtained prom-
330
ises, stopped the mouths of lions,
quenched the violence of fire, escaped
the edge of the sword, out of weakness
were made strong, waxed valiant in
fight, turned to flight the armies of
the etc.
Of course, Christ is our primary
"hero," or model. We are told in many
Bible passages to follow Him first (see
I Pet. 2:21, 22; I John 2:6). Yet we are
also called to follow those of His people
who are truly imitating Him. Paul ex
horted the Christians (I Cor. 11:1), "Be
ye followers of me, even as I also am of
Christ."
So we are likewise to follow
the Heroes of Hebrews insofar as they
were followers of the True God.
Let us notice, then, some of the char
acteristics of the two men described in
the assigned passage, and see why they
are well qualified to serve as our ex
amples in the Christian life.
I. Noah. What a man! He was around
five hundred years old when God said,
"Build Me a boat." It was to be longer
than a football field, approximately 75
ft. wide, and as tall as a three story
house, or better; quite similar in size to
many ocean-liners today. It took at least
one hundred years to build it. He may
have had help other than his three sons
in building it, but no one else believed
his predictions. Only his own family
were fit to enter the Ark when the flood
came. Peter describes him as a "preach
er of
(n Peter 2:5).
Think of preaching for a hundred years
to people, and never winning a convert!
All he received was ridicule, and pity,
and sarcasm. What a story it must have
been for his neighbors to tell. Farther
and farther over the civilized world it
must have spread . . . "Did you hear
about crazy old Noah Ha!" How would
you like to be the laughing stock of the
whole world
If we think we have our troubles
with ridicule,
persecution, and if we
think the Lord is asking us to
do unreasonable and unpopular things,
what about Noah! This "Hero" shows
us: (a) Determination to do God's will;
(b) perseverance over a long period of
time; (c) faithful witnessing in the face
of unbelief; (d) obedience to every de
tail of God's command (Gen. 6:22); and
(e) a clear-cut example of what it
means to "walk with God" (Gen. 6:9).
II. Abraham. Another "hero" of equal,
or surpassing, fame. He is known as the
"father of the faithful." Born in heathen
surroundings, and with a father who
was an idolater, Abraham might have
been the same type. But he wasn't.
Somehow he learned of, and believed in,
the One True God. Eventually the Lord
told him to leave home and seek a land
of promise, so Abraham obeyed (even
though he had not the slightest idea
where it was, or how long it would take
to get there!). When he arrived in Ca
naan, God showed him that it was the
area that would some day contain mil
lions of his descendants. But had not Ab
raham been a powerful man of faith and
trust, he might have become discour
aged. The inhabitants were little dif
ferent from those he had left back in
Ur, idolatrous heathen. But he, and his
family, eventually settled down there,
living in tents, satisfied that God would
accomplish what He said He would.
Abraham's experiences perhaps do not
excite as much sympathy in us as the
experiences of Noah, but yet the ac
counts of Abraham's faithfulness, might,
and accomplishment show us much in
"hero"
the way of example for us. This
shows us: (a) Sound belief in the true
God in a sea of wickedness; (b) willing
ness to leave his home for God though
"flying blind," going not by sight, but
by faith; (c) obedience even without
understanding (Gen. 22:2, 3); (d) per
sistence in Prayer for others (Gen. 18:
23-32) ; (e) a full and blessed life lived
wholly for the Lord (Gen. 24:1).
Solomon had not written his in
spired advice as yet, but the life of
Abraham says the same, "Trust in the
Lord witli all thine heart and lean not
unto thine own understanding; in all thy
ways acknowledge Him, and He shall
direct thy
Questions :
(Prov. 3:5, 6).
1. Other Bible heroes are listed, in
cluding Gideon, Barak, Samson, etc.
What qualities do we find in their lives
of faith that we can imitate
2. Mention historical and modern-day
Heroes of Faith, and show how they
have demonstrated that faith.
3. What heroes does each person pres
ent have Are they
follow Why or why not
good examples to
* Used by permission of International
Christian Endeavor.
Psalms :
C. Y. P. U. TOPIC
For June 12, 1955
BIG WORDS: GROW
Luke 2:39-52; II Peter 3:18
Topic used by permission of
Christian Endeavor
92:11-14, page 226
1:1-6, page 1
144:10-13, page 349
19:5-9, page 42
COVENANTER WITNESS